Driving home tonight with outside temp of 28F and inside temp set to 74 while driving at 65 MPH ( fan speed was on 3rd lowest and mode was upper/lower with no recirculation. I feel this cold air on my left elbow and start to search for source. A few min. later my wife and I find that cold air is streaming in from all 4 inside door handles. This amounts to a very large total air leak and really cools off the interior. I can imagine that someone in Arizona in the summer when its 115 outside has to have their air conditioner work overtime. I did try the recirculation mode, but it had little affect on the leaks. Could you check your 2009 TL and see if your door handles are letting a large amount of outside air in under similar conditions. This may be a design defect and somehow should be sealed as it's like driving with your windows cracked slightly open.

 

In each door there is a plastic knob used to manually lock each door on the inside. If you shine a light in there, you will see right inside the door where this knob pivots on its hinge. There should be some sort of rubber seal there, but there is none as I guess they missed it in the design stage.

 

I would call up Acura client services and voice your complaint as this is unacceptable for a brand new car.

 

Guess this kinda doesn't use the pollen filter in the dash!

 

I'm having the same issue. Not only is the air coming in from the door handles, it is also leaking at the window and door lock buttons. Just put your palm over them. I was wondering why on a 100 mile drive in 40 degree's my left arm and knee were freezing. Speaking with dealer and Acura client tomorrow.

 

Guys,

Having the same problem with my new TL.... Any responses from Client Service or local dealers service departments? Let me know before I start cracking some heads.... This is very bad to have a new car that has air leaks around the handles.. Thanks

 

Went to dealer today. They have not heard of this issue. Service tech and master tech took it out for test drive. They are claiming this is normal. There apparently are vents from underneath car directing air into the door to assist in drying out any wetness inside from rainy window, etc. There is insulation in the door and cutouts at the handles, window/lock buttons, and at the trunk/fuel buttons. This airflow is supposed to keep the insulation from getting mildew. I don't know what to make of this, since eventually eveyone that notices will complain. I'm in Chicago, McGrath Westmont. See if your dealer gives you the same story. I'm still going to follow up with client services next to express my concern and displeasure.

 

I got my TL up to 80mph and did not notice any air leaks from the around door handle.

 

Did you have the sunroof vented?

 

Surprising, or maybe not so surprising, design flaw. Honda needs to start really paying attention. Transmission problems on the 3G and an abundance of other faults has made me, a long time Acura consumer very much doubt that this will be my next purchase.

 

I'm new to this site so first of all hello everyone. I've only had my new TL since this past Friday so I haven't noticed anything out of wack yet but I'm surely going to pay attention on my 50 mile highway drive to work tomorrow for these air leaks that everyone has.

 

The only air leak I've noticed so far was from the moon roof seal. My TL is at the dealer as I type this getting that fixed.

 

I tested my 4g today and did not have any air flow through the door handle or lock mechanism while driving at varying speeds. I did have airflow in those areas when I tilted the moonroof up or opened it all together.

 

Um... i've had an 06 TL, 08 TL-S , 09 TL-SHAWD ... my girlfriend has na 03 CL-S and the Ex 04 TSX & 02 TL-S..

every single car had this issue... i dont think its a problem... also, sometimes when the HVAC is off, you still feel area blowing out of the vents....

 

Thats normal. Put the air on recirculate with zero fan speed, that'll kill the air flow. Otherwise the air will flow into the vehicle, the faster you drive, the more air comes in.

 

^ yea, i knew there was a certain combination to make it stop.. thats why i said sometimes... even hondas do it... g/fs old AV6 coupe did it....

 

I don't have your car (have a 2001 TL and a 2009 TSX) but I thought I would brag a little and let you know that my cars don't do that. However, both my 2003 Civic and my girl friends Avalon do that, I also know the last gen Passats do it. It's a common problem in a lot of cars depending on the door handle design, air is always going to get into the door somehow and needs to escape somewhere (usually the door handle). If it is that bad in the TL I'm sure a DIY fix would be easy, I would recommend off the top of my head adding some rubber backing to the location its leaking (just be warned air may start to come through other places).

 

I currently own a 07 TL Navi (Picking up 09 TL NAVI today) and as with all vehicles manufactured since the 70's this is a safety feaure called "Free Flow Ventilation". If I remember correctly the problems involved windows blowing out from extreem interior temps (as found in AZ). It also had a side benefit as to keepin the cabin free of built up exhaust gasses, as was a problem back then.
Since then the technology has evolved as we have today.

Hope this helps and does'nt add any confusion.

 

Hi, I have TL sh-awd w/ tech, there is no flow through the backseat middle vent, is that normal?? Thanks!